Add-on communication apparatus attached to cable installment type charging control device

ABSTRACT

An add-on communication apparatus is attached to cable installment type charging control device integrally attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly. A wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates with a terminal device. An infrared light receiving diode receives an infrared light having a digital pattern representing an attachment check response signal and receives an infrared light having a digital pattern representing electric vehicle charging related information from the cable installment type charging control device. An attachment check unit checks whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern. The attachment check unit changes a state of the add-on communication device on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2013-0080747, filed on Jul. 10, 2013, the contents of which areall hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to charging of an electric vehicle.

The electric vehicle refers to a vehicle driven by using electricity,and is mainly classified into a battery powered electric vehicle and ahybrid electric vehicle. The battery powered electric vehicle is drivenby using only electricity without fossil fuel, which is generally calledan electric vehicle. In addition, the hybrid electric vehicle is drivenby using both of the electricity and the fossil fuel. In addition, theelectric vehicle is equipped with a battery to supply electricity fordriving. In particular, the battery powered electric vehicle and aplug-in type hybrid electric vehicle have batteries charged with powersupplied from an external power supply, and drive an electric motor byusing the power charged in the battery.

When the electric vehicle is charged with 60 Hz-commercial grid powersupplied through a household socket, an electric vehicle charging cableassembly is used.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly includes a connectorconnected to the electric vehicle, a plug connected with the socket, anda power cable to link the connector to the plug.

Since the electric vehicle charging cable assembly is used under variousenvironments, a cable installment type charging control device to ensurethe stable charging of the electric vehicle may be provided in theelectric vehicle charging cable assembly. The cable installment typecharging control device is integrated with the power cable so that thecable installment type charging control device is not easily separatedfrom the power cable by a user. In order to ensure the stable chargingof the electric vehicle, the cable installment type charging controldevice is necessary to be strong against an external temperature,external humidity, vibration, and impact. If the cable installment typecharging control device includes a connector for wired communication,the connector may include a metal port. Accordingly, the cableinstallment type charging control device may not satisfy therequirements described above.

However, since the user wants to check the charging state, it isnecessary for the cable installment type charging control device, whichis integrally attached to the electric vehicle charging cable assembly,to notify the user of the charging state.

To this end, the cable installment type charging control device may showthe charging-related information or the failure information through LEDshaving a predetermined color.

In other words, the user is required to personally check the cableinstallment type charging control device with the eyes of the user inorder to obtain the charging-related information. In general, the usermay want to more check the charging state under the environment that itis rainy, cold, or hot. However, the user feels inconvenient because theuser goes out under the above weather situation to personally check thecable installment type charging control device with the eyes of theuser.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a system, an apparatus, and a method capable ofconveniently providing electric vehicle charging related information toa user.

In one embodiment, an add-on communication device attached to a cableinstallment type charging control device attached to an electric vehiclecharging cable assembly, includes: a wireless communication unitwirelessly communicating with a terminal device; an infrared lightreceiving diode receiving a first infrared light having a first digitalpattern, and receiving a second infrared light having a second digitalpattern representing electric vehicle charging related information fromthe cable installment type charging control device; an attachment checkunit checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to thecable installment type charging control device on the basis of the firstdigital pattern and changing a state of the add-on communication deviceon the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached tothe cable installment type charging control device; and a control unitobtaining the electric vehicle charging related information from thesecond digital pattern, and transmitting the electric vehicle chargingrelated information to the terminal device through the wirelesscommunication unit.

The device may further include an infrared light emitting diode emittinga third infrared light having a third digital pattern representing anattachment check request signal, wherein the first digital patternrepresents an attachment check response signal corresponding to aresponse to the attachment check request signal.

When the add-on communication device is not determined as attached tothe cable installment type charging control device, the infrared lightemitting diode may emit the third digital pattern according to apredetermined time pattern, until the add-on communication device isdetermined as attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice.

When receiving the first infrared light having the first digital patternwithin a predetermined time after the third infrared light having thethird digital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit maydetermine that the add-on communication device is attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device, and, when not receiving thefirst infrared light having the first digital pattern within apredetermined time after the third infrared light having the thirddigital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit may determine thatthe add-on communication device is not attached to the cable installmenttype charging control device.

The infrared light emitting diode may periodically emit the thirdinfrared light having the third digital pattern.

A 1 bit time length of the first digital pattern may be longer than thatof the second digital pattern and a 1 bit time length of the thirddigital pattern may be longer than that of the second digital pattern.

When the add-on communication device is determined as attached to thecable installment type charging control device, the attachment checkunit may change a state of the add-on communication device into anactive state, and, when the add-on communication device is notdetermined as attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice, the attachment check unit may change the state of the add-oncommunication device into an idle state.

A power consumption amount of the add-on communication device in theidle state may be smaller than that in an active state.

The attachment check unit may change a state of the wirelesscommunication unit on the basis of whether the add-on communicationdevice is attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice.

When the add-on communication device is determined as attached to thecable installment type charging control device, the attachment checkunit may change the state of the wireless communication unit into acommunication enable state, and, when the add-on communication device isnot determined as attached to the cable installment type chargingcontrol device, the attachment check unit may change the state of thewireless communication unit into a communication disable state.

A power consumption amount of the wireless communication unit in thecommunication disable state may be smaller than that in thecommunication enable state.

The attachment check unit may be separate hardware from the control unitand change a state of the control unit on the basis of whether theadd-on communication device is attached to the cable installment typecharging control device.

When the add-on communication device is determined as attached to thecable installment type charging control device, the attachment checkunit may change the state of the control unit into a normal operatingstate, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined asattached to the cable installment type charging control device, theattachment check unit may change the state of the control unit into anoperation stop state.

A power consumption amount of the control unit in the operation stopstate may be smaller than that in the normal operation state.

In another embodiment, an operation method of an add-on communicationdevice attached to a cable installment type charging control deviceattached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly, include:receiving a first infrared light having a first digital pattern;checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to thecable installment type charging control device on the basis of the firstdigital pattern; changing a state of the add-on communication device onthe basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to thecable installment type charging control device; receiving a secondinfrared light having a second digital pattern representing electricvehicle charging related information from the cable installment typecharging control device; obtaining the electric vehicle charging relatedinformation from the second digital pattern; and wirelessly transmittingthe electric vehicle charging related information to the terminaldevice.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electric vehicle charging systemaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle charging cable assemblyaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a terminal device according to anembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a ladder diagram showing an operation method of electricvehicle charging system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an electrical vehicle charging systemaccording to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electrical vehicle charging cableassembly according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an add-on communication apparatus accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of an add-on communication deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an operation according to elapsed time of an add-oncommunication apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a ladder diagram showing an operating method of an electricvehicle charging system according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

In the following description, usage of suffixes such as ‘module’, ‘part’or ‘unit’ used for referring to elements is given merely to facilitateexplanation of the present invention, without having any discriminatedmeaning or role by itself.

A terminal device according to the embodiment may include a cellularphone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcastingreceiver, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), Portable Multimedia Player(PMP), and a navigation device. It may be easily understood by thoseskilled in the art that the configuration disclosed through theembodiment is applicable to a stationary terminal such as a digital TVor a desktop computer, excluding a case of being applicable only to amobile terminal.

Hereinafter, description about a first embodiment of an electric vehiclecharging system is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electric vehicle charging systemaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electric vehicle charging system 10 according toan embodiment includes an electric vehicle 100, an electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20, a socket 30, and a terminal device 300.

The socket 30 provides AC power.

The electric vehicle 100 is connected to the socket 30 through theelectric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and receives the AC powerfrom the socket 30.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 delivers AC power fromthe socket 30 to the electric vehicle 100.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes cableinstallment type charging control device 200, an electric vehicleconnector 21, a power cable 23, and a plug 25.

The power cable 23 delivers power. The power cable 23 may include anEV-side power cable and a grid-side power cable.

The electric vehicle connector 21 is inserted into an electric vehicleinlet 120 and connected to the electric vehicle inlet 120, and mayadhere to SAE J1772 specification.

The plug 25 is inserted and connected to the socket 30.

The cable installment type charging control device 200 monitors chargingthe electric vehicle 100, provides charging related information obtainedthrough the monitoring to the terminal device 300, and controls chargingof the electric vehicle 100.

In an embodiment, the cable installment type charging control device 200is fixedly and integrally attached to the power cable 23 in order not tobe easily separated from the power cable 23 by the user, and hascharacteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity,vibration, or impact.

In particular, the cable installment type charging control device 200 isfixedly and integrally attached to the power cable 53 in order not to beeasily separated from the EV-side power cable by the user.

In addition, the cable installment type charging control device 200 isfixedly and integrally attached to the power cable 63 in order not to beeasily separated from the grid-side power cable by the user.

On the other hand, in an embodiment, the cable installment type chargingcontrol device 200 may include a connector so as to be connected to orseparated from the power cable 23 by the user. At this point, theconnector is necessary to have characteristics robust to an externaltemperature, external humidity, vibration, or impact.

In particular, the cable installment type charging control device 200may include a connector so as to be connected to or separated from theEV-side power cable by the user. At this point, the connector isnecessary to have characteristics robust to an external temperature,external humidity, vibration, or impact.

In addition, the cable installment type charging control device 200 mayinclude a connector so as to be connected to or separated from thegrid-side power cable by the user. At this point, the connector isnecessary to have characteristics robust to an external temperature,external humidity, vibration, or impact.

When the cable installment type charging control device 200 includes aconnector for wired communication, since this connector includes a metalport, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may be weakto external environments. In order to address such an issue, the cableinstallment type charging control device 200 may wirelessly transmitcharging related information to the terminal device 300.

The terminal device 300 wirelessly communicates in a non-contact schemewith the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and displaysinformation related to the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle according to anembodiment.

The electric vehicle 100 includes a battery 110, a battery chargingdevice 115, an electric vehicle inlet 120, a communication unit 130, anda control unit 140.

The battery 110 provides power for driving the electric vehicle 100 tothe electric vehicle 100.

The electric vehicle inlet 120 is a connector for receiving power forcharging of the battery 100 from outside. The electric vehicle inlet 120may adhere to SAE J1772 specification.

The battery charging device 115 charges the battery 110 by using powerprovided through the electric vehicle inlet 120.

The communication unit 130 may communicate with the electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20 or the terminal device 300.

The control unit 140 controls an overall operation of the electricvehicle 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle charging cable assemblyaccording to an embodiment.

As described above, the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20includes a cable installment type charging control device 200, anelectric vehicle connector 21, a power cable 23, and a plug 25.

At this point, the cable installment type charging control device 200includes a relay 220, a detecting unit 230, an electric vehiclecommunication unit 240, a terminal device communication unit 250, astorage unit 260, and a control unit 270.

The relay 220 controls to cut off power transmission through the powercable 23. In detail, when turned off, the relay 220 cuts off powertransmission through the power cable 23. When turned on, the relay 220provides power transmission through the power cable 23.

The detecting unit 230 detects information related to charging of theelectric vehicle to be described later. In particular, the detectingunit 230 may detect all information on the electric vehicle 100 andinformation on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. Thedetecting unit 230 may not detect information on the electric vehicle,but on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. In detail, thedetecting unit 230 may include a relay fusion detecting unit, a currentdetecting unit, an internal temperature detecting unit, an internalhumidity detecting unit, an external temperature unit, an externalhumidity detecting unit, a short circuit detecting unit, and adisconnection detecting unit. The relay fusion detecting unit may detectwhether the relay 220 is fused. The current detecting unit may detectamplitude of a current flowing through the power cable 23. The internaltemperature detecting unit may an internal temperature of the electricvehicle charging cable assembly 20. The internal humidity detecting unitmay detect an internal humidity of the electric vehicle charging cableassembly 20. The external temperature detecting unit detects asurrounding temperature of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200. The external humidity detecting unit may detect asurrounding humidity of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200. The short circuit detecting unit may detect whether theelectric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 is short-circuited. Thedisconnection detecting unit may detect whether the electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20 is disconnected.

The electric vehicle communication unit 240 performs communication withthe electric vehicle 100. In detail, the electric vehicle communicationunit 240 performs communication with the communication unit 130 of theelectric vehicle 100. The electric vehicle communication unit 240 mayperform communication with the communication unit 130 through the powercable 23 in a power-cable communication scheme. In addition, theelectric vehicle communication unit 240 and the communication unit 130may perform communication with each other through an infrared dataassociation (IrDA) scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, aBluetooth scheme, an ultra wideband (UWB) scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and adigital living network alliance (DLNA) scheme.

The terminal device communication unit 250 performs communication withthe terminal device 300. In detail, the terminal device communicationunit 250 performs communication with a communication unit 310 of theterminal device 300. In particular, the terminal device communicationunit 250 and the communication unit 310 may perform communication witheach other through an IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communicationscheme, a Bluetooth scheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNAscheme.

The storage unit 260 stores various pieces of information to bedescribed later. In detail, the storage unit 260 may store the chargingrelated information on the electric vehicle 100. The storage unit 260may store the information on the use history of the cable installmenttype charging control device 200. For example, the storage unit 260 maystore the information on the final use time point, use time, andaccumulated use time of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200.

The control unit 270 controls the overall operation of the cableinstallment type charging control device 200 together with the followingoperation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a terminal device according to oneembodiment.

The terminal device 300 includes the communication unit 310, an inputdevice 320, a control unit 330, and a display unit 340.

The communication unit 310 performs communication with the terminaldevice communication unit 250.

The input device 320 obtains a user input. The input device 320 mayinclude at least one of a touch screen, a physical button, a microphonefor obtaining the user input in a voice type, an acceleration sensor forobtaining a motion gesture of the terminal device 300 as the user input,a keyboard, a mouse, and a keypad.

The control unit 330 controls the overall operation of the terminaldevice 300 together with the following operation.

The display unit 340 displays information on the charging operation anda charging state of the cable installment type charging control device200. The display unit 340 may display information on failure of thecable installment type charging control device 200 and information onaction of a user dealing with the failure. For example, the display unit340 may display information on the charging operation and the chargingstate of the cable installment type charging control device 200 throughvisually indicating manners including at least one of characters,geometrical figures, or light, and/or acoustically indicating mannersincluding a sound.

FIG. 5 is a ladder diagram showing an operation method of electricvehicle charging system according to an embodiment.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 obtains the user inputto issue a command to the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20through the input device 320 (operation S101). At this point, the userinput for controlling the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20may include one or more of an input to start charging of the electricvehicle 100, an input to stop the charging of the electric vehicle 100,and an input to request the charging related information on the electricvehicle 100.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 transmits a commandcorresponding to the obtained user input to the cable installment typecharging control device 200 through the communication unit 310(operation S103). The control unit 270 of the cable installment typecharging control device 200 receives the command through the terminaldevice communication unit 250.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200 executes the received command (operation S105).

In detail, when the command corresponding to the user input is a commandto start the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 270of the cable installment type charging control device 200 turns on therelay 220 that has been turned off, so that the electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20 may supply AC power to the electric vehicle100 through the socket 30.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command to stopthe charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 270 of thecable installment type charging control device 200 turns off the relay220, which has been turned on, to prevent the electric vehicle chargingcable assembly 20 from charging the electric vehicle 100.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command to requestthe charging related information on the electric vehicle 100, thecontrol unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device200 collects the charging related information on the electric vehicle100.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200 transmits a response to the received command to the terminaldevice 300 through the terminal device communication unit 250 (operationS107).

When the command corresponding to the user input is the command to startthe charging of the electric vehicle 100, the response may includeinformation notifying that the relay 220 is in a turn-on state.

When the command corresponding to the user input is the command to stopthe charging of the electric vehicle 100, the response may includeinformation notifying that the relay 220 is in a turn-off state.

When the command corresponding to the user input is the command torequest the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100,the response may include the collected charging related information onthe electric vehicle 100.

The charging related information on the electric vehicle 100 may includeat least one of information on the electric vehicle 100 and theinformation on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20.

The information on the electric vehicle 100 may include at least one ofan initial charging state, a current charging state, a charging starttime, an estimated charging finish time, an actual charging finish time,charging status information on the electric vehicle 100, charging errorinformation on the electric vehicle 100, information on the powerquantity supplied to the electric vehicle 100, and the information onamplitude of current applied to the electric vehicle 100. The initialcharging state and the current charging state may be represented as aratio of a current charged power quantity to the total capacity of thebattery 110. The charging status information on the electric vehicle 100may represent that the electric vehicle 100 is in the middle of beingcharged with power, in the standby state for charging, or has beencompletely charged. The information on the electric vehicle chargingcable assembly 20 may include at least one of information on thecharging operation of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20,information on the use history of the electric vehicle charging cableassembly 20, state information on the electric vehicle charging cableassembly 20, and information on the failure of the electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20. The information on the charging operation ofthe electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 represents whether theelectric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 supplies the power, which isreceived through the socket 30, to the electric vehicle 100. The stateinformation on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 mayinclude state information on the relay 220, the information on whetherthe relay 220 is fused, information on temperature of the electricvehicle charging cable assembly 20, information on the short-circuit ofthe electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, information ondisconnection of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, andinformation on surrounding environments of the electric vehicle chargingcable assembly 20. The state information on the relay 220 may representwhether the relay 220 is turned on or turned off. The information on thesurrounding environments of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly20 may include at least one of information on the surroundingtemperature and information on the surrounding humidity.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 displays the receivedresponse on the display unit 340 (operation S109).

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command forstarting the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 330of the terminal device 300 may display the information notifying thatthe relay 220 is in the turn-on state on the display unit 340.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command forstopping the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 330of the terminal device 300 may display the information notifying thatthe relay 220 is in the turn-off state on the display unit 340.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command forrequesting the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100,the control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 may display the chargingrelated information on the electric vehicle 100 on the display unit 340.The user may input an additional user input for controlling the electricvehicle charging cable assembly 20, to the terminal device 300 throughthe input device 320 based on the displayed charging related informationon the electric vehicle 100.

As described above, the information on the charging operation and thestate information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 aredisplayed through the terminal device 300. Accordingly, the user maysimply and easily recognize the information on the charging operationand the state information on the electric vehicle charging cableassembly 20. In addition, the user more easily determines the failure ofthe electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the failed part ofthe electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 based on the stateinformation on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, so thatthe user can easily take an action of dealing with the failure. Forexample, when the ground line is short-circuited between the electricvehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the power supply, theshort-circuited ground line is difficult to detect according to therelated art. However, according to the embodiment, the detecting unit230 detects and displays the disconnection state, so that the user stopsthe charging of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 andrepairs the disconnected part or requests the repair for thedisconnected part. In particular, when the information on the failure ofthe electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the information onthe action of dealing with the failure are transmitted to the terminaldevice 300 from the cable installment type charging control device 200,the user can more simply and easily detect the failure of the electricvehicle charging cable assembly 20 and take an action of dealing withthe failure. Accordingly, the user can recognize in advance that theelectric vehicle 100 is not charged due to the failure of the electricvehicle charging cable assembly 20. In addition, for example, if the usehistory of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 istransmitted to the terminal device 300, the user can estimate in advancethe life span of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 andprepare an additional electric vehicle charging cable assembly.

On the other hand, frequent uses under an inferior environment cause theelectric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 to be frequently repaired orreplaced. However, when the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20includes the cable installment type charging control device 200including relatively expensive terminal device communication unit 250,it is more difficult to repair the electric vehicle charging cableassembly 20 due to the characteristics of the cable installment typecharging control device 200 manufactured to have the characteristicsrobust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, andimpact, and a replacement cost may be increased.

In order to address the above-described issue, the terminal devicecommunication unit 250 may be separated from the cable installment typecharging control device 200. Such an embodiment will be described withreference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an electrical vehicle charging systemaccording to another embodiment

Referring to FIG. 6, an electric vehicle charging system 10 according toan embodiment includes an electric vehicle 100, an electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20, a socket 30, a terminal device 300, and anadd-on communication device 400.

Since the socket 30 and the electric vehicle 100 according to theembodiment are similar to those of the previous embodiment of FIG. 1,the details thereof will be omitted.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 transmits AC power tothe electric vehicle 100 from the socket 30.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes a cableinstallment type charging control device 200, an electric vehicleconnector 21, a power cable 23, and a plug 25.

Since the power cable 23, the electric vehicle connector 21, and theplug 25 according to the embodiment are the same as or similar to thoseof the previous embodiment of FIG. 1, the details thereof will beomitted.

The cable installment type charging control device 200 monitors thecharging of the electric vehicle 100, and provides the charging relatedinformation obtained through the monitoring to the add-on communicationdevice 400, thereby controlling the charging of the electric vehicle100. The cable installment type charging control device 200 isintegrally attached to the power cable 23 in order not to be easilyseparated from the power cable 23 by a user. The cable installment typecharging control device 200 has the characteristics robust to anexternal temperature, external humidity, vibration, and impact. When thecable installment type charging control device 200 includes a connectorfor wired communication, since the connector includes a metal port, thecable installment type charging control device 200 may be weak toexternal environments. In order to address the above issue, the cableinstallment type charging control device 200 may perform wirelesscommunication with the add-on communication device 400.

The terminal device 300 performs wireless communication with the add-oncommunication device 400 in a non-contact scheme and displays theinformation on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20.

The add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installmenttype charging control device 200. At this point, the add-oncommunication device 400 may be mechanically coupled with the cableinstallment type charging control device 200. In addition, the add-oncommunication device 400 may be attached to the cable installment typecharging control device 200 by a magnetic force.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle charging cable assemblyaccording to another embodiment.

As described above, the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20includes the cable installment type charging control device 200, theelectric vehicle connector 21, the power cable 23, and the plug 25.

At this point, the cable installment type charging control device 200includes an add-on device communication unit 210, a relay 220, adetecting unit 230, an electric vehicle communication unit 240, astorage unit 260, and a control unit 270. When comparing with theembodiment of FIG. 3, the cable installment type charging control device200 shown in FIG. 7 further includes the add-on device communicationunit 210. In addition, although the cable installment type chargingcontrol device 200 shown in FIG. 7 may not include the terminal devicecommunication unit 250 in order to reduce the price and the repair cost,the cable installment type charging control device 200 may include theterminal device communication unit 250 according to variousapplications.

Since the relay 220, the detecting unit 230, the electric vehiclecommunication unit 240, the storage unit 260, and the control unit 270according to the embodiment are the same as or similar to those of theembodiment of FIG. 3, or may be described later.

The add-on device communication unit 210 performs communication with theadd-on communication device 400. The add-on device communication unit210 and the add-on communication device 400 may perform communicationwith each other through an IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communicationscheme, a Bluetooth scheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNAscheme.

In particular, in order to reduce the price of the electric vehiclecharging cable assembly 20 and the add-on communication device 400, theadd-on device communication unit 210 may adopt the IrDA scheme. At thispoint, the add-on device communication unit 210 may include an infraredlight emitting diode and an infrared light receiving diode.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an add-on communication device according toan embodiment.

The add-on communication device 400 includes an attachment check requestsignal generating unit 410, an attachment check unit 420, a chargingcontrol device communication unit 440, a terminal communication unit450, a storage unit 460, and a control unit 470.

The charging control device communication unit 440 performscommunication with the cable installment type charging control device200. In detail, the charging control device communication unit 440performs communication with the add-on device communication unit 210 ofthe cable installment type charging control device 200. The chargingcontrol device communication unit 440 and the add-on devicecommunication unit 210 may perform communication with each other throughan IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetoothscheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNA scheme.

In order to reduce the price of the electric vehicle charging cableassembly 20 and the add-on communication device 400, the chargingcontrol device communication unit 440 may employ the IrDA scheme. Atthis point, the charging control device communication unit 440 mayinclude an infrared light emitting diode 441 and an infrared lightreceiving diode 442.

When the add-on communication device 400 is normally attached to thecable installment type charging control device 200, positions of theinfrared light emitting diode 441 and the infrared light receiving diode442 of the charging control device communication unit 440 are matchedwith the infrared light receiving diode and the infrared light emittingdiode of the add-on device communication unit 210 of the cableinstallment type charging control device 200, respectively.

The terminal communication unit 450 performs communication with theterminal device 300. In detail, the terminal communication unit 450performs communication with the communication unit 310 of the terminaldevice 300. In detail, the terminal communication unit 450 and thecommunication unit 310 may perform communication with each other throughan IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetoothscheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNA scheme.

The storage unit 460 stores following information. In detail, thestorage unit 460 may store the charging related information on theelectric vehicle 100. The storage unit 460 may store information on theuse history of the cable installment type charging control device 200.For example, the storage unit 460 may store information on a final usetime point, use time, and accumulated use time of the cable installmenttype charging control device 200.

The control unit 470 controls an overall operation of the add-oncommunication device 400 together with the following operation.

Since the add-on communication device 400 is not directly andelectrically connected to the cable installment type charging controldevice 200, the add-on communication device 400 is necessary toadditionally receive power. However, when a user does not use the add-oncommunication device 400, the user may not cut off the power supplied tothe add-on communication device 400. Accordingly, since the unnecessarypower consumption is increased, a scheme of minimizing power consumptionis required when the add-on communication device 400 is not used.

Hereinafter, a state change of the add-on communication device 400according to an embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 9 and10.

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of the add-on communication deviceaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates an operation of theadd-on communication device as time passes according to an embodiment.

The add-on communication device 400 has an idle state ST100 and anactive state ST200.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the idle state ST100, a power consumption amountof the add-on communication device 400 is smaller than that in theactive state ST200.

The idle state ST100 includes an attachment check state ST110 and anattachment check standby state ST120. As illustrated in FIG. 10, aresponse standby time corresponding to a time length of the attachmentcheck state ST110 may be shorter than attachment check standby timecorresponding to a time length of the attachment check standby stateST120. In the attachment check standby state ST120, the powerconsumption amount of the add-on communication device 400 is smallerthan that in the attachment check state ST 110.

The infrared light emitting diode 441 in the attachment check stateST110 of the idle state ST100 emits an infrared light having apredetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check requestsignal. When it is not determined that the add-on communication device400 is attached to the built-in charging control device 200, theinfrared light emitting diode 441 may emit an infrared light having apredetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check requestsignal according to a predetermined time pattern, until it is determinedthat the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the built-incharging control device 200. At this point, the predetermined timepattern may have a certain period. That is, the infrared light emittingdiode 441 may periodically emit an infrared light having a predetermineddigital pattern representing an attachment check request signal.Furthermore, after the add-on communication device 200 is determined asattached to the built-in charging control device 200, the infrared lightemitting diode 441 may emit the infrared light having the predetermineddigital pattern representing the attachment check request signalaccording the predetermined time pattern.

In an embodiment, in both cases before and after the add-oncommunication device 200 is determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device 200, the infrared lightemitting diode 441 may emit an infrared light having a predeterminedidentical digital pattern representing an attachment check requestsignal. At this point, the attachment check request signal generatingunit 410 is responsible for generation of the digital pattern used foremission. The attachment check request signal generating unit 410 may beseparate hardware from the control unit 470.

In another embodiment, the digital pattern of the infrared light emittedbefore the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached tothe cable installment type charging control device 200 may be differentfrom the digital pattern of the infrared light emitted after the add-oncommunication device 400 is determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device 200. At this point, theattachment check request signal generating unit 410 is responsible forgeneration of the digital pattern of the infrared light emitted beforethe add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to thecable installment type charging control device 200. In addition, thecontrol unit 470 may be responsible for generation of the digitalpattern of the infrared light emitted after the add-on communicationdevice 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment typecharging control device 200. The attachment check request signalgenerating unit 410 may be separate hardware from the control unit 470.

When the add-on communication device 400 is normally attached to thecable installment type charging control device 200, the cableinstallment type charging control device 200 receives an infrared lighthaving a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment checkrequest signal and emits an infrared light having a predetermineddigital pattern representing an attachment check response signal.Through this, the infrared light receiving diode 442 of the add-oncommunication device 400 may receive an infrared light having apredetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check responsesignal.

The attachment check unit 420 checks whether the add-on communicationdevice 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice 200 on the basis of a predetermined digital pattern representingan attachment check response signal, and changes a state of the add-oncommunication device 200 on the basis of whether the add-oncommunication device 400 is attached to the cable installment typecharging control device 200. In detail, when receiving an infrared lighthaving a predetermined digital pattern representing the normalattachment check response signal within a response standby time which isa predetermined time after an infrared light having a predetermineddigital pattern representing the attachment check request signal isemitted, the attachment check unit 420 may determine that the add-oncommunication device 400 is attached to the cable installment typecharging control device 200. When not receiving the infrared lighthaving the predetermined digital pattern representing the normalattachment check response signal within the response standby time whichis the predetermined time after the infrared light having thepredetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check requestsignal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may not determine thatthe add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installmenttype charging control device 200.

In the attachment check state ST110, when the add-on communicationdevice 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment typecharging control device 200, the attachment check unit 420 may changethe state of the add-on communication device 400 into the active stateST200.

In the attachment check state ST110, when the add-on communicationdevice 400 is not determined as attached to the cable installment typecharging control device 200, the attachment check unit 420 may changethe state of the add-on communication device 400 into the attachmentcheck standby state ST120.

After a predetermined time passes from a time of entering the attachmentcheck standby state ST120, the attachment check unit 420 may change thestate of the add-on communication device 400 into the attachment checkstate ST110.

In the active state ST 200, when receiving an infrared light having apredetermined digital pattern representing the normal attachment checkresponse signal within the response standby time which is apredetermined time after an infrared light having a predetermineddigital pattern representing an attachment check request signal isemitted, the attachment check unit 420 may maintain the state of theadd-on communication device 400 as the active state ST200.

In the active state ST 200, when not receiving the infrared light havingthe predetermined digital pattern representing the normal attachmentcheck response signal within the response standby time which is thepredetermined time after the infrared light having the predetermineddigital pattern representing the attachment check request signal isemitted, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of theadd-on communication device 400 into the attachment check standby stateST120 of the idle state ST100.

In the active state ST200, the attachment check unit 420 may leave thestate of the terminal communication unit 450 as a communication enablestate and the state of the control unit 470 as a normal operating state.In the idle state ST100, the attachment check unit 420 may leave thestate of the terminal communication unit 450 as a communication disablestate and the state of the control unit 470 as an operation stop state.

In the communication disable state, a power consumption amount of theterminal communication unit 450 is smaller than that in thecommunication enable state. In the operation stop state, a powerconsumption amount of the control unit 470 is smaller than that in thenormal operation state.

The attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the terminalcommunication unit 450 on the basis of whether the add-on communicationdevice 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice 200. In detail, when the add-on communication device 400 isdetermined as attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice 200, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of theterminal communication unit 450 into the communication enable state.When the add-on communication device 400 is not determined as attachedto the cable installment type charging control device 200, theattachment unit 420 may change the state of the terminal communicationunit 450 into the communication disable state.

On the other hand, the attachment unit 420 may be separate hardware fromthe control unit 470. At this point, the attachment check unit 420 maychange the state of the terminal communication unit 450 on the basis ofwhether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device 200. In detail, when the add-oncommunication device 400 is determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging check device 200, the attachment unit 420 maychange the state of the control unit 470 into the normal operatingstate. When the add-on communication device 400 is not determined asattached to the cable installment type charging check device 200, theattachment unit 420 may change the state of the control unit 470 intothe operation stop state.

In the active state ST200, the control unit 470 exchanges various piecesof information with the cable installment type charging control device200 through the charging control device communication unit 440.

In an embodiment, a 1 bit length of a digital pattern representinginformation exchanged in the active state ST200 may be the same as thatin the idle state ST100.

In another embodiment, the 1 bit length of the digital patternrepresenting information exchanged in the idle state ST100 may be longerthan that in the active state ST200. Since information exchanged in theidle state ST100 corresponds to the attachment check request andattachment check response, an information amount is not great. If the 1bit length of the digital pattern becomes shorter, a frequency increasesand power consumption is higher, which may not be appropriate to theidle state ST100. Furthermore, since an information amount exchanged inthe active state ST200 is relatively great, the one bit length of thedigital pattern is necessary to be shortened.

FIG. 11 is a ladder diagram illustrating an operation method of theelectric vehicle charging system 10 according to another embodiment.

Firstly, the add-on communication device 400 is in the idle state ST 100(operation S301).

When the attachment check state ST110 arrives in the idle state ST100,the attachment detecting signal generating unit 410 of the add-oncommunication device 400 generates an attachment check request signal(operation S302). The attachment detecting signal generating unit 410may generate a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachmentcheck request signal.

In the attachment check state ST110 of the idle state ST100, thecharging control device communication unit 440 of the add-oncommunication device 400 transmits the attachment check request signal(operation S303). In an embodiment, the infrared light emitting diode441 of the charging control device communication unit 440 may emit aninfrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing theattachment check request signal.

In the attachment check state St110 of the idle state ST100, thecharging control device communication unit 440 of the add-oncommunication device 400 receives the attachment check response signalfrom the cable installment type charging control device 200 (operationS305). In an embodiment, the infrared light receiving diode 442 of thecharging control device communication unit 440 may receive the infraredlight having the digital pattern represent the attachment check responsesignal.

The attachment check unit 420 of the add-on communication device 400checks whether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to thecable installment type communication device 400 on the basis of theattachment check response signal (operation S307). As described above,when receiving an infrared light having a predetermined digital patternrepresenting the attachment check response signal within a responsestandby time which is a predetermined time after an infrared lighthaving a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment checkrequest signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may determinethat the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device 200. When not receiving theinfrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing theattachment check response signal within the response standby time whichis the predetermined time after the infrared light having thepredetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check requestsignal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may determine that theadd-on communication device 400 is not attached to the cable installmenttype charging control device 200.

When determining that the add-on communication device 400 is attached tothe cable installment type charging control device 200 on the basis ofthe attachment check response signal, the attachment check unit 420 ofthe add-on communication device 400 changes the state of the add-oncommunication device 400 into the active state ST200 (operation S309).

The terminal communication unit 450 of the add-on communication device400 transmits, to the terminal device 300, an event message notifyingthat the state of the add-on communication device 400 is changed intothe active state ST200 (operation S311).

The terminal device 300 displays that charging related control of theelectric vehicle is possible on the basis of the message notifying thatthe state of the add-on communication device 400 has been changed intothe active state ST200 (operation S313).

Furthermore, the control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 obtains auser input for commanding the electric vehicle charging cable assembly20 through the input device 320 (operation S315). At this point, theuser input for controlling the electric vehicle charging cable assembly20 may include one or more of an input to start charging of the electricvehicle 100, an input to stop the charging of the electric vehicle 100,and an input to request the charging related information on the electricvehicle 100.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 transmits a commandcorresponding to the obtained user input to the add-on communicationdevice 400 through the communication unit 310 (operation S317). Theadd-on communication device 400 in the active state may receive acommand from the terminal device 300.

The add-on communication device 400 in the active state transmits thereceived command to the cable installment type charging control device200 through the charging control device communication unit 440(operation S319). The infrared light emitting diode 441 of the chargingcontrol device communication device 440 may emit an infrared lighthaving a digital pattern corresponding to the received command.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200 executes the received command (operation S321). Since theoperation described in operation S105 may be applied to the operationdescribed in operation S321, detailed description about operation S321is omitted.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging controldevice 200 transmits a response corresponding to the received command tothe add-on communication device 400 through the add-on devicecommunication unit 210 (operation S323). The infrared light emittingdiode of the add-on device communication unit 210 of the cableinstallment type charging control device 200 may emit an infrared lighthaving a digital pattern corresponding to a response to the receivecommand. The add-on communication device 400 in the active state mayreceive a response from the terminal device 300. Since the operationdescribed in operation S107 may be applied to the operation described inthe operation S323, additional description about the operation S323 isomitted.

The control unit 470 of the add-on communication device 400 in theactive state transmits the received response to the terminal device 300through the terminal device communication unit 450 (operation S325).

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 displays the receivedresponse on the display unit 340 (operation S327). Since the operationdescribed in operation S109 may be applied to the operation described inthe operation S327, detailed description about the operation S327 isomitted.

According to an embodiment, the above-described method can be embodiedas processor readable codes on a program recorded medium. Examples ofthe processor readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, andoptical data storage devices, and carrier waves (such as datatransmission through the Internet).

The above-described embodiments can be applied individually to products,but also the whole embodiments or parts of the embodiments can beselectively combined and applied to products through various variationsand modifications.

The embodiment is to maintain the characteristics of the cableinstallment type charging control device manufactured to have thecharacteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity,vibration, and impact, to facilitate the repair for the cableinstallment type charging control device, and to conveniently providethe charging-related information on the electric vehicle to a userwithout increasing the cost when the cable installment type chargingcontrol device is replaced with new one.

The embodiment is to minimize power consumption when power supplied tothe unused add-on communication apparatus is not cut off.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An add-on communication device attached to acable installment type charging control device attached to an electricvehicle charging cable assembly, comprising: a wireless communicationunit wirelessly communicating with a terminal device; an infrared lightreceiving diode receiving a first infrared light having a first digitalpattern, and receiving a second infrared light having a second digitalpattern representing electric vehicle charging related information fromthe cable installment type charging control device; an attachment checkunit checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to thecable installment type charging control device on the basis of the firstdigital pattern and changing a state of the add-on communication deviceon the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached tothe cable installment type charging control device; and a control unitobtaining the electric vehicle charging related information from thesecond digital pattern, and transmitting the electric vehicle chargingrelated information to the terminal device through the wirelesscommunication unit.
 2. The device according to claim 1, furthercomprising an infrared light emitting diode emitting a third infraredlight having a third digital pattern representing an attachment checkrequest signal, wherein the first digital pattern represents anattachment check response signal corresponding to a response to theattachment check request signal.
 3. The device according to claim 2,wherein, when the add-on communication device is not determined asattached to the cable installment type charging control device, theinfrared light emitting diode emits the third digital pattern accordingto a predetermined time pattern, until the add-on communication deviceis determined as attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein, when receiving thefirst infrared light having the first digital pattern within apredetermined time after the third infrared light having the thirddigital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit determines thatthe add-on communication device is attached to the cable installmenttype charging control device, and when not receiving the first infraredlight having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time afterthe third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted,the attachment check unit determines that the add-on communicationdevice is not attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the infrared lightemitting diode periodically emits the third infrared light having thethird digital pattern.
 6. The device according to claim 2, wherein a 1bit time length of the first digital pattern is longer than that of thesecond digital pattern and a 1 bit time length of the third digitalpattern is longer than that of the second digital pattern.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein, when the add-on communication device isdetermined as attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice, the attachment check unit changes a state of the add-oncommunication device into an active state, and, when the add-oncommunication device is not determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device, the attachment check unitchanges the state of the add-on communication device into an idle state.8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a power consumption amountof the add-on communication device in the idle state is smaller thanthat in an active state.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein theattachment check unit changes a state of the wireless communication uniton the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached tothe cable installment type charging control device.
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein, when the add-on communication device isdetermined as attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice, the attachment check unit changes the state of the wirelesscommunication unit into a communication enable state, and, when theadd-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device, the attachment check unitchanges the state of the wireless communication unit into acommunication disable state.
 11. The device according to claim 10, wherea power consumption amount of the wireless communication unit in thecommunication disable state is smaller than that in the communicationenable state.
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein theattachment check unit is separate hardware from the control unit andchanges a state of the control unit on the basis of whether the add-oncommunication device is attached to the cable installment type chargingcontrol device.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein, when theadd-on communication device is determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device, the attachment check unitchanges the state of the control unit into a normal operating state,and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attachedto the cable installment type charging control device, the attachmentcheck unit changes the state of the control unit into an operation stopstate.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein a power consumptionamount of the control unit in the operation stop state is smaller thanthat in the normal operation state.
 15. An operation method of an add-oncommunication device attached to a cable installment type chargingcontrol device attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly,the method comprising: receiving a first infrared light having a firstdigital pattern; checking whether the add-on communication device isattached to the cable installment type charging control device on thebasis of the first digital pattern; changing a state of the add-oncommunication device on the basis of whether the add-on communicationdevice is attached to the cable installment type charging controldevice; receiving a second infrared light having a second digitalpattern representing electric vehicle charging related information fromthe cable installment type charging control device; obtaining theelectric vehicle charging related information from the second digitalpattern; and wirelessly transmitting the electric vehicle chargingrelated information to the terminal device.
 16. The method according toclaim 15, further comprising emitting a third infrared light having athird digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal,wherein the first digital pattern represents an attachment checkresponse signal corresponding to a response to the attachment checkrequest signal.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, when theadd-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device, the infrared light emittingdiode emits the third digital pattern according to a predetermined timepattern, until the add-on communication device is determined as attachedto the cable installment type charging control device.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the checking of whether the add-oncommunication device is attached to the cable installment type chargingcontrol device on the basis of the first digital pattern comprises, whenreceiving the first infrared light having the first digital patternwithin a predetermined time after the third infrared light having thethird digital pattern is emitted, determining that the add-oncommunication device is attached to the cable installment type chargingcontrol device, and when not receiving the first infrared light havingthe first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the thirdinfrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, determiningthat the add-on communication device is not attached to the cableinstallment type charging control device.
 19. The method according toclaim 18, wherein the emitting of the third infrared light having thethird digital pattern comprises periodically emitting the third infraredlight having the third digital pattern.
 20. The method according toclaim 16, wherein a 1 bit time length of the first digital pattern islonger than that of the second digital pattern and a 1 bit time lengthof the third digital pattern is longer than that of the second digitalpattern.